Little Falls transcript., 1887-02-25
BAD BETTE BENNETT.

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i. There is no moral at all to what I am
going to tell you about Bette Bennett.
At least the real tact of the case is
that it is lall very immoral. But
that's neither here nor there.
1 had been watching the play some
time-I, generally looked upon by the
fortunate others az an old maiden
lady probably without experience,
and certainly without hope. The
play went on at the seaside; serious
play, for tho stakes were high. high as
when some Old Eastern potentate
risks his lovely Circassian girl, body
and soul, to his antagonist. The
players were not Eastern potentates,
but all the same, lovely girls, body
and soul, were the stakes. I
used to think OF it when saw Laura
Stockwood, that stately beauty, and
Jeannette Dean, the dashing one, and
Caro-, and Elsa, and Edith, and the
rest. And among the rest could one
forget Bette Bennett? She was not q
person to allow hergelf to be forgot
ten.
And yet you did not understand
what 1T all meant, this furcr about
her. She was not q beauty; she had
no accomplishments to speak of; she
was not an heiress. But she had every
thing her own way the summer
through. If you had to describe her
you would say she was a dark. and
slender little person, with arch ways
and the gayest laugh in the world;
and that would be all there was
about it. All there was about it,?
O., not in the least! In the first place
there was the readiest wit, the great
est good-nature, the most perfect
grace. In the next place, there we're
the most wonderful toilets.
"Well," said to her, after a. week
or SO, as she rested by me moment,
ut must cost all of Il fortune to dress
you. I don't sec where you get it,"
$50 it does" she said, with encour-
aging frankness. "Take nv toilets,
and gloves, and boots, and folderols,
and all, and the interest of it would
take care OF one poor person for life.
Isn't it wicked?" and she looked at
me with irresistible drollery.
ayes, think it is ~ said 1. For
had known Miss Bette OF old, and
knew that if she got through this sum.
n,er alive she wouldn't have one pen
ny left.
And the worst of it isl continued
she, "that when you think you have
enough for a queen you find you've
only made start, and have to keep
ordering more Pelisser and from Bob
binet and the others. It won't do to
; be suspected Of any tarnish. You
must de fresh or nothing. Why, I'm
in debt up to my eyes!"
"Bettie, l don't know what you
can think of YOURSELF" said, in con-
sternation. "You have nothing to
pay with: It's dishonest-it's-it's
swindling."
"No it isn't. It's business. If I
carry out my plans my pin. money
next year will pay my bad debts"
"And if you don't''
"Well, then they can have the things
back"
"Bettie,,"
"To look out for that is more
trouble than can take, with all the
rest that have. Pm in for it, And
I've got to be success"
"Bettie, if people knew about you,
you'd be anything but success"
II don't intend they shall. And it's
q pity il can't trust you"
You can--you can. I don't ap.
prove Of you. Ii you we're content to
sit still, as do, in one or two gowns,
ana see the show go BY
And let somebody else marry Mr..
Dunrobin! No, thank you. Pm not
content. But / shouldn't have gone
into this extravagance-it makes my
very soul ache to see those gowns-ifI
were not obliged to be all the time on
evidence"
IL don't really see the need of that"
II do. If youle to be a success,
And | didn't come here to 20 home
again. And | came here not only to
rule this summer, but to have my rule
emembered in all summers to come"
"Noble ambition!"
"lt isn't ambition, tell you; it's
business"
"But, Bette. you re not a beauty"
$50 much the more to my glory.'
"You ridiculous midget!'
"She's little but she 3 shrewd.' And
Oft she sped as young Pennycastle
came along for an hour at tennis; and
saw her coming back in time sur
rounded by an awkward squad of
young society men.
"Yes, they are an awkward squad"
she said, in answer to me by.and-by.
And stupid-stupid beyond anything!"
'"The idea Of taking 50 much troub-
10, Bette, to please them, then!''
"1'm not doing it to please them,
the iackanapes! Yes, they are jacka-
napes! They don't know anything
about society small talk and atti-
tudes. They can dance-O. how they
can dance! First one and then anoth-
er, till there are holes in the soles of
your SLIPPERS. Sometimes I 90 to
bed SO tired it tseems as If baths of hot
alco hol wouldn't put any life into my
feet. But Pm up in the morning as
fresh as rose with dew on it. have
to be. It's what Pm here for. And
they're part of my success, these lit
tie swells. I've got to go about with
train OF them as certificates OF it.
They're just like it-where one
goes all go. o, yes, indeed;
thank you, Mr.. Vonderbust; you re al
ways so kind! 1t is just what was
wishing. Do you know sometimes
think you the most--'and caught
no more ofthe silvery sentence, for She
had gone off with Mr.. Vonderbust,
catching un her daperias as she flashed